How (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

How (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

Running Events, South Africa, Travel

How (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

If you want to know how NOT to qualify for the Comrades Marathon, The Ultimate Human Race, then you’ve come to the right place!*  This post is about our attempts at how (not) to qualify for the Comrades Marathon in 2024.

We have both run the Comrades Marathon before.  Dave ran it in 2007 and in 2010, and I also ran it in 2010 – you can check out My Comrades Marathon 2010 story here.  

*SPOILER ALERT – we did qualify for the 2024 Comrades Marathon, but we didn’t do it the easy way!  Read on to learn more about the Comrades Marathon, and the lessons we learned during the training and qualifying period.

About the Comrades Marathon

First a bit of background about the Comrades Marathon.  The Comrades Marathon is an ultra marathon run on the road between the two cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in South Africa.  It first started 103 years ago in 1921, and this year will be the 97th Comrades Marathon.  The distance is approximately 90km/56 miles, but does vary slightly each year depending on the exact route used.  The race starts at 5.30am and has a cut-off time 12 hours later at 5.30pm.  

The Comrades Marathon, also known as The Ultimate Human Race, is iconic in South Africa, and is a challenge that attracts runners from all around the world.  The modern era sees upwards of 20,000 runners take to the start line.

Up versus Down in the Comrades Marathon

The direction of the run alternates each year between “up” and “down”.  The “up” and “down” effectively refers to the elevation levels of the starting and finishing points – Pietermaritzburg sits at an elevation of approximately 921 metres (3,022 ft), while Durban is pretty much at sea level.

The “Down Run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, is usually run in odd-numbered years, and the “Up Run” which starts in Durban and finishes in Pietermaritzburg is run in even-numbered years.  There have been exceptions to this due to special events, for example the FIFA World Cup in South Africa in 2010 meant that year was a Down Run.  And due to the global coronavirus pandemic the Comrades Marathon was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. 2022 followed the missing years with a Down Run, before returning to the correct odd/even sequence for the 2023 race.  

This year the Comrades Marathon is an Up Run and will be held on the 9th June 2024. 

Qualifying Criteria for the Comrades Marathon in 2024

The Comrades Marathon is an ultra marathon road running race where you need to run at least one approved race no shorter than 42.2km in under 4hrs49min59secs to qualify.  In essence you have to run a marathon in under 4hours 50minutes, and you have to do it between 1st September 2023 and 6th May 2024 in order to stand on the start line in Durban on the 9th June 2024.

There are some additional criteria (e.g. completing a medical questionnaire), plus other official distances and times for qualifying, but for the purpose of this post we will concentrate purely on international entrants (us!) attempting to run a qualifying time for the Comrades Marathon in 2024.

The lure of the Comrades Marathon

The Comrades Marathon has a way of pulling you in.  Once you’ve done one Comrades, you want to do another, and that is despite the fact that after running the first 90kms most people say never again!  2024 will see one man, Barry Holland, remarkably attempt to run his 50th consecutive Comrades Marathon!!!

Dave started with a “Down” run in 2007 while we lived in South Africa, and I vowed at the finish line of that race that I was not going to endure the stresses of being a supporter/spectator ever again.  Next time I too would run the race.

Dave running the Comrades Marathon in 2007

That next time didn’t arrive until 2010 when Dave was hoping he would get the chance to complete the “Up” run and have the satisfaction of completing one of each of the Comrades Marathon routes.  But apparently due to the FIFA World Cup and the 85th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon, the organisers changed the race direction to a “Down”.  We both completed that race in 2010, but it meant that we would have to return to South Africa again to take on the challenge of the “Up”.

Dave in the red vest
Sharon in the blue vest

It has taken us 14 years to find the right time to get back to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon Up Run!  

Losing my running mojo

Dave has been fairly consistent with his running over those past 14 years, continuing to bang out a decent weekly mileage, but after finishing the Venice Marathon in 2019 I didn’t think I’d ever run another marathon again.  (How wrong I was!)

Finishing Venice Marathon 2019

With the onset of menopause and all the changes that come with it, plus a diagnosis of osteoporosis in my hips, I lost my running mojo.  The coronavirus pandemic also meant all running races were cancelled, and the motivation for me to run without a race goal was non-existent.

And so it was during a day in late September last year when Dave was training for the Rennes Marathon in France that I decided I will start running again.  If he was going to fulfil his dream of going back to South Africa to run an Up Comrades Marathon, then I sure as hell was not going to be left standing on the sidelines!  My running mojo was back, menopause or no menopause, and I was ready to give Comrades Marathon training a crack.

Starting training for the Comrades Marathon from scratch

I was aware that I was starting training for an ultra-marathon from a very low base.  And I was starting late in the Comrades Marathon training programme calendar – most training plans for beginners like me start from June, not October!  But even if it was only two to three short runs a week, it was a start, and more importantly I had the focus and motivation to keep trying.  My aching knees that I had been feeling while walking and cycling had deterred me from running, but it wasn’t long before I realised I could run pain free!  By the end of October 2023 I had managed to run a whopping six times covering the grand total of 33km for the month.

At the beginning of December 2023 when my average weekly total was hitting the glorious highs of 22kms, we paid the entry fee and officially entered to run the 2024 Comrades Marathon.  There was no turning back now!

The road to qualifying for the Comrades Marathon

The road to qualifying for the 2024 Comrades Marathon has been a tad bumpy for both of us to say the least!  We had already lost four months of the qualifying period by the time we actually entered so time was certainly not going to be on our side.

In October Dave contracted another bout of Covid 10 days before he was due to run the Rennes Marathon in France.  He managed 35kms of the marathon before wisely deciding to bail out.  No qualifying time there then!

Running in the Rennes Marathon, the first marathon out of 24 where Dave didn’t cross the finish line.

A last minute house sitting opportunity in the Canary Islands meant we would be based there for the winter months (November-March), and it was there where our training began in earnest.  Our runs became consistent four times a week, building mileage slowly, and with help from Dave’s cousin Kieran we started a strength training programme in the local gym.  Adding in a good sports massage every couple of weeks definitely aided the recovery process. 

By the end of the year we felt we were on target to complete our qualifying marathons by mid-late February.  Seville was the one we had our eye on.  But then the first disaster struck…

Injury

In early January on one of our weekend long runs, Dave went over on his ankle and damaged the ligaments in his foot!  No running for four weeks, and it may have been a lot longer had it not been for a great local physio working his magic.

We had to push back the qualifying marathon to March to give him time to build up again.  The only workable option we could find was the Lentemarathon in Amstelveen (Amsterdam) on the 17th March, St. Patrick’s Day.  Surely that would be enough to bring us luck!!!

The luck of the Irish, or not?

Unfortunately there was to be no luck for the Irish on the 17th March at the Lentemarathon in Amsterdam, but there was for the English one of us!

Race plan

I had felt as strong and as prepared as I could be come race day.  My race plan was to join an official race pacer who I could follow to achieve my Comrades qualifying goal of finishing a marathon in under 4hrs 50minutes.  Despite being told when we picked up our race numbers the day before the event that there would be race pacers, there were not!  A slight wave of panic set in on the start line as I didn’t have a Plan B, but I still felt confident enough that I could run the necessary qualifying time by following my own run/walk strategy I had used in training.

All smiles on the start line at the Lentemarathon in Amstelveen

Now let me make it clear here that for anyone who doesn’t know me, numbers and mental arithmetic are not my forte.  As I clicked through the kilometres on my Garmin sports watch I was trying to calculate, in my head, the average pace I needed to maintain in order to make the qualifying time.  I didn’t want to run too slow and risk missing the qualifying time, and nor did I want to run too fast and risk not having enough energy to complete the race.  

Suffice to say that I messed up on my calculations.  With one kilometre left to run I realised I was not going to make it in time.  I crossed the finish line, but missed the qualifying time by one minute!!!  

Not so smiley at the finish line!

If I could turn back time

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later after persistent questions to Dave on how I could possibly learn to pace myself that he realised I hadn’t set the average pace setting on my sports watch correctly!  If only I could turn back time!!!

Meanwhile Dave had taken the sensible option in Amsterdam to not push too hard and risk any further injury.  He chose to run slightly slower than his normal marathon pace to guarantee a finish well within the Comrades qualifying time.  He qualified comfortably despite missing out on so much of his training.  Looks like he had the Irish luck on his side!  

Finished and off to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

At least one of us had qualified for Comrades Marathon 2024, but with time ticking by fast, and our flights to South Africa booked for the end of March, I was going to have to rejig my training plan and squeeze in another attempt at qualifying when we got to South Africa.

Altitude attempt in April

What were we thinking???

As soon as we arrived in South Africa for our three month stay we were on the hunt for another Comrades Marathon qualifying option for me to do.  I really wanted to get it done sooner rather than later so that I could get back to consistent training without worrying about race preparation, tapering time, and recovery time.  Plus, if for any reason the second attempt didn’t work out, I needed time to fit in yet another attempt before the final cut-off on the 6th May.

The South African running calendar is full of races with lots of Comrades Marathon qualifying options throughout the country.  We wanted to minimise the amount of changes to our travel plans so opted to stay a little longer than originally planned in Johannesburg, and use the Irene Ultra 48km challenge on the 7th April as my qualifier.  This was only three weeks after my first attempt in Amsterdam, and less than two weeks after arriving in the highveld which has an altitude of around 1,700m/5,577ft.  Far from ideal preparation given that it was so close to the previous attempt, and that up until this point we had only ever been training at sea level!

The Comrades Marathon qualifying criteria for the Irene Ultra was to complete it in under 5hrs 50minutes.  With Dave helping to pace me this time we thought it would be doable.  Unfortunately that was not the case.  Running at the higher altitude took its toll.  We simply had not had enough time to acclimatise and breathing was a real struggle.  Plus one or two negative thoughts after the halfway point meant I slowed way down and had to resort to a lot more walking than running.  We finished the Irene Ultra together in 6hrs 1min, but that was 11 minutes outside the necessary Comrades Marathon qualifying time. 

It was back to the drawing board!

The face says it all!

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

Not to be deterred by two unsuccessful attempts at qualifying for the Comrades Marathon, I was determined to continue my training, and we flew to our next base in the Western Cape.  But with qualification closing on the 6th May time was running out for me to get that all important qualifying time.  

The best, and really the only viable option for me, was to plan to run the Buffalo City Marathon in the Eastern Cape on the 1st May (a public holiday in South Africa).  We changed our travel plans once again and were excited about returning to the city of East London where we had spent two very enjoyable years as volunteers in 2006 and 2007, and where Dave had started his running career.

Recovery from the Irene Ultra was good.  My training was all going well until five days before the Buffalo City Marathon when late on a Saturday afternoon I felt a sudden niggle in my hamstring.  A panic stricken emergency call to our massage therapist ensued, and after finishing his work with the Stormers rugby team he kindly made a late out of hours visit to treat the sore spot.  A follow up treatment on the Monday before we flew to East London made things feel a lot better, and it gave me the confidence boost I needed.

Third time lucky

The race campaign slogan for Comrades Marathon 2024 Up Run is “No Doubt – Nakanjani”, an inference to the firm belief held by those who take on the world’s biggest and oldest, and much loved ultra marathon.  Any doubts I did have about qualifying had to be put aside on the morning of the 1st May as we lined up in the darkness with about 400 other runners on the side of a road in the Eastern Cape.  This was not the time to feel any pressure!

It was the most relaxed race start we’ve ever experienced.  An impromptu song and dance from some of the local Xhosa runners set such a positive vibe for the day ahead.  

Dave and I ran comfortably together, and enjoyed the special camaraderie you get from runners in South Africa, keeping each other positive and focused.  4hours and 44minutes later we crossed the finish line in blazing sunshine.  I was able to jump for joy at the relief of knowing that on my third attempt I finally got the Comrades Marathon qualifying time I needed!  

Now all we have to do is get to the start line in Durban on the 9th June.

Qualifying for the Comrades Marathon on the third attempt
Qualifying for the Comrades Marathon at last!

Getting to the start line of the Comrades Marathon

We have tried to give ourselves the best available chance to get to the start line of the 2024 Comrades Marathon Up Run on the 9th June.  We’ve done what training we could in the time we’ve had.  It has been far from ideal, but that’s life.  We’ve overcome challenges and fears, and at times, we’ve definitely had our doubts.  We’ve qualified to run the Comrades Marathon in 2024.  

Our qualifying times determine our seeding position and where on the start line we will be.  Needless to say I will be at the back of the pack in H seeding having qualified with only six minutes spare.  Dave will start slightly ahead of me in G batch having qualified more comfortably in 4hrs24mins.

On the morning of Sunday the 9th June it will be a privilege to line up along with 20,000+ other runners at the City Hall in Durban.  We will wait with bated breath, and our fair share of nerves, as the cock crows and the starter’s gun goes off at 5.30am to start The Ultimate Human Race.  Like every other Comrade, we will do everything we can to get to that finish line before the gun goes off again at 5.30pm in Pietermaritzburg to signal the end of the Comrades Marathon.  Of that there is No Doubt! Nakanjani.

Fundraising

We are running the Comrades Marathon to help raise money for two very deserving charities that are personal to us – Chai Cancer Care, and Alzheimer’s Research UK. If you would like to donate then please click on our JustGiving link here. Anything you can afford to donate will be very greatly appreciated.

Lessons learned trying to qualify for the Comrades Marathon

Start training early

Start training as far in advance of Comrades as possible.  If like me you are starting from a zero to very low running base, or are a novice runner, then start training as early as possible, ideally a full year before race day.  That will give you ample time and chances to complete a qualifying marathon without feeling the pressure and going down to the wire like I did!

Follow a training plan

Follow a training plan and/or get a coach.  You will find training plans for all level of runners from Coach Parry, the official Comrades coach on the Comrades Marathon website.  It is worth noting here that the training plans are very much based around the calendar of South African running events. We had to amend the training plan to fit in with what qualifying options were possible for us in the Northern Hemisphere winter.  Things don’t always go to plan as we well know, so be prepared to adjust your training plan as you go. 

Train consistently

Getting out there to run regularly 3-4 times a week at the start is more important than the distance you are running.  Your runs will gradually get longer as you build the consistency.

Rest and recover

Listen to your body and know when to stop and recharge your batteries. A rest day is just as important as a training day.  We added in regular sports massages with qualified sports therapists which we felt really helped to aid the recovery process.

Join a running group

Join a running group if you can.  It is much more motivational to run with others, and perhaps you will find a running buddy who runs your pace.  We were house sitting in a tourist resort in the Canary Islands for the first four and a half months of our training and there were no running groups to join.  Training solo can be tough, especially when you’re getting up at 5am in the dark!  Arriving in South Africa and being so warmly welcomed by local running groups gave us a real boost.

Do strength training

Including 2-3 sessions a week of resistance training has made a world of difference to my bones, they physically feel stronger to me, and I truly believe the strength work has helped keep injury at bay.  We enrolled in a gym for 3 months, but we’re aware the costs can be prohibitive.  It is still possible to do most of the body weight exercises at home (or in your camper van!) with very basic equipment.  A couple of resistance bands and a few 5litre bottles of water for weights is all you need.

Stretch more

We still don’t stretch after every single run and training session, but we have gotten better.  Sometimes you’re just too tired, too cold, too hungry, in a hurry, but to my detriment I know the importance of taking that extra 10-20 minutes to stretch the muscles (my hamstring niggle is still an ongoing concern).  We use the Down Dog app which is a personalised yoga app.  You can select your practice type, time, level, focus, voice and music.  

Use a sports watch

Learn to use the functions of your sports watch in your training sessions – it is a great training tool if used properly.  I missed my first Comrades Marathon qualifying attempt by one minute which could’ve been avoided if I’d had the right settings switched on! 

Schedule races in advance

Enter any races and events that you are planning to do into your calendar well in advance.  These days many marathons and half marathons sell out far in advance of race day.  The Seville Marathon in mid-February was the one we were hoping to use as our Comrades qualifier only to find out it had sold out months in advance and had a humungous waiting list!  Ideally you should work towards completing your qualifying race before Christmas so you can concentrate solely on Comrades Marathon training from January to June.

Race day strategy

Plan your race day strategy in advance, and have a plan A, B, and C just in case things change on the day.  Had we known there were going to be no pacers at the Lentemarathon in Amsterdam, we would likely have run together to ensure we both got that qualifying time in the bag!

Acclimatise

If you’re running in a new country, a new time zone, on new terrain, or in a different season or setting, give yourself time to acclimatise to the new conditions whether that be altitude, humidity, or hot versus cold. 

Reflections on running the Queenstown Marathon

Reflections on running the Queenstown Marathon

New Zealand, Running Events, Travel

Reflections on running the Queenstown marathon

Here are a few reflections on running the Queenstown marathon yesterday.

Despite never having run the Queenstown marathon before (this was only the event’s fourth year) it was full of memories for us. From the start line in the ever serene setting of Millbrook, where I had worked in The Spa, and Dave as a green keeper many moons ago. To running through the streets of Arrowtown, the place we called home for so long. Circling the stunning Lake Hayes where we spent many a summer’s evening swimming, and the occasional morning, was as breathtaking as ever. Following the tracks and trails in the Wakatipu Basin with their majestic views on every twist and turn was the same pure delight we had felt years previously when we were regular runners in this very special part of the world.

Dave at the start of Queenstown Marathon
Sharon at Queenstown Marathon start
Millbrook Resort
Queenstown Marathon route at Lake Hayes
Queenstown Marathon trail

It felt like we were home, especially because we saw so many friendly and familiar faces en route – spectators, volunteers and runners. Bumping into the Race Director at registration who was none other than our friend Nicole was lovely, and being called in over the finish line by local stalwart Ferg who we’d met when we first arrived in Queenstown in 2001, was an entertaining finish to the race.

The event itself was super slick (we have to say that since it was our friend in charge!), but we were amazed at how many people were walking the route, were there so many people like me who had not done the training required to run a marathon? I truly believe if I had done the training then this marathon could’ve been my personal best. Of course we’ll never know that, and I will just be eternally grateful to have made it to the start line. Even more grateful to have crossed the finish line, especially in front of the man in the mankini!

Man wearing a mankini running the Queenstown Marathon

Suffice to say it was a fantastic day. It was hot, hard, and dusty. We both completed the Queenstown marathon, 42kms of running in our old stomping grounds. Dave finished well in 4hrs 18minutes. With a fair few walking breaks I eventually crossed the finish line after 5hrs 18minutes.

Sharon Schindler running across the Queenstown Marathon finish line.
Sharon and David Schindler at the Queenstown Marathon finish line.

This surely is the most beautiful marathon in the world?? Do you have it on your marathon bucket list?

River view on Queenstown Marathon route
Queenstown International Marathon

Queenstown International Marathon

New Zealand, Running Events, Travel

Queenstown International Marathon November 2017

Muscle memory is what I’m banking on for running tomorrow’s Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon! I’m relying on muscle memory to get me through the 42kms, along with the fact that I can once again soak up the absolutely stunning views I know and love so well. Sadly my training this year has fallen far short of what it should have been. Rather than running I spent precious time with my Mum before she passed away in September.

I’ve never felt so ill prepared for taking on the 42kms, but despite the lack of physical training, and the increasing number of niggles in my shins, knees and hips, I’m as determined as ever to cross the finish line in Queenstown tomorrow.

The body will go where the mind takes it

My old faithful mantra “the body will go where the mind takes it” will no doubt be in full force tomorrow as I take on what I feel could be my final physical and mental marathon challenge.

I feel so lucky to have been privileged enough to live in this area for 12 years of my life. During that time I ran many miles on what is now the Queenstown International Marathon course. It is yet another privilege to be here again and to soak up the scenery once more.

Since I’ve practically made it to the start line, I’m sure I’ll make it to the finish line, albeit at an even slower pace than usual, but I’ll do my best to enjoy every step of the way.

With views like this how could you not enjoy it?

Queenstown International Marathon view of Lake Hayes
Lake Hayes

Wish me luck! And here’s to Dave as well, who, of course, is also running tomorrow.

My Comrades Marathon 2010

My Comrades Marathon 2010

Running Events, South Africa, Travel

I don’t intend for this Comrades Marathon story to be a step-by-step account of the whole 89kms/56 miles because that is an awful lot of steps to account for.  Plus, the fact that I’m writing this almost three months after the event means there is no guarantee I’m going to remember every single step!  But I do want to record and share my experience of the journey which could well turn out to be a once in a lifetime event.

This is it

“This is it” – my first thoughts as I awoke at 3am on the morning of Sunday 30th May 2010, the day of the 85th Comrades Marathon, an ultra-marathon ‘down’ run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in South Africa.  (The route changes direction between the two cities each year).

It had been a restless night as I lay contemplating the 89.2km of tarmac road that was ahead of me, and all the while I was envious of the fact that, beside me, Dave was seemingly managing to get some sound sleep.  But sleep, or lack of it, was not going to stop me from feeling ready to take on the challenge of this ultimate human race.

In silent respect for each other, both Dave and I began our usual morning running rituals to get ready for the day ahead.  The preparations of course had started long before today.  It was when we were leaving South African in December 2007 that we promised ourselves we would return in 2010 for both of us to run Comrades and to experience the first FIFA World Cup on African soil.

Why run Comrades?

To help you understand why I had this goal of running Comrades, I have to go further back in time.  I lived for a while in South Africa in the early ‘90’s where I met a few ‘lunatics’ who had run this legendary race, and I was awestruck at them accomplishing such a feat.  Then when I was studying in Sheffield a few years later, it turned out my tutor, Dave Bagshaw, had not only run Comrades, but won it!  He won it the first time he attempted it in 1969 in a time of 5hrs 45mins 35secs.  He won it again in 1970 and in 1971 – the first man to win Comrades in three consecutive years.  And of course when ‘my Dave’ ran it in 2007, I was further inspired, and I dreamed of the day we would take on this challenge together.

News paper article from Comrades Marathon

Comrades camaraderie

The day was here, and together with five other runners who we’d met only the day before, we travelled the 40-minute journey to the start line in Pietermaritzburg.  We’d been staying in Kloof for the week leading up to the race, and cannot begin to thank Heather, a friend of a friend in Colorado who had herself ran Comrades in 2008, for putting us in touch with her cousins.  Susie & Michael Pottinger and their three lovely kids, Emma, Alex and Sam, could not have us (strangers) more welcome in their home.  We were thoroughly spoiled, and it was the perfect place to relax before the big day.

The camaraderie that the race is so famous for, was already evident when Brian, a neighbour of the Pottingers, offered us to join his family and friends for a pasta supper, and to watch the Super 14 rugby final, the evening before the race.  Brian was also the one who got up at the ungodly hour in the dark of night to drive us all to the start.  He had run 10 Comrades Marathons, so he knew what we were going through.

Qualifying for the start line

We made it to the start line with only a few minutes to spare and jostled to get a space in our seeding pen.  Thankfully we were both starting in the same pen, but more by luck than anything else.  All runners must enter a marathon time of under five hours to qualify for Comrades.  Your qualifying time determines where on the line you start – the faster your marathon time, the further up the field you start.  Since I had only ever run one marathon in 4hrs 52mins, I had to use that as my qualifying time, and it put me right at the back of the pack in seeding pen H.  At the time of entering back in October last year, Dave used his qualifying time of 4hrs 14mins, putting him ahead of me in pen F.  But a few weeks before Comrades Dave asked to be upgrade his seeding based on completing the Southland marathon in 3hrs 49mins.  Comrades kindly obliged, but instead of upgrading Dave, they changed me to pen D!  Dave requested his change a second time and conveniently failed to mention their error on my entry.  They amended his seeding to D, and so it was that we were destined to start together!

Race day

Back on the start line, well before sunrise, the tension was mounting as almost 16,500 runners of all shapes and sizes, tried to squeeze into the starting pens.  The smell of deep heat permeated the chill in the air, while runners limbered up to the tune of the South African national anthem, followed by the spine-tingling sounds of Chariots of Fire.

The start line of Comrades 2010

My emotions were running high as I thought not only of the enormity of the challenge that lay ahead, but of all the obstacles I’d overcome, and the effort I had put in to get to this point,  As I stood there trying to compose myself and conserve my energy, I knew it was not just my efforts that got me to the start line, but the support I received from all the people who believed in me, and of course, one special person in particular.  There was no way I could hold back the tears as I felt the loving arms of my darling husband wrap around me.  It was Dave who got me here, and I knew this was my day to make him proud as I joined the unique group of athlete who define themselves by conquering the ultimate human race that is the Comrades Marathon.

At 5.30am the cock crowed, and a single gunshot signalled the start of my first ever Comrades Marathon.  All I could think was the time is now, I’m going to do it.  My mission was to cross the finish line before another single gunshot would be fired exactly 12 hours later to signal the end of this legendary gun-to-gun race.

Hand in hand we shuffled along, and six minutes later we crossed the start line.  It was time to let go, and now I was on my own.  Dave would run his race and I would run mine.  We arranged to meet at the international tent in Kingsmead Sahara Stadium in Durban sometime later that day.

My first few kilometres were fraught with nerves.  It was dark and congested and I had to watch my every step to avoid tripping over rubbish, kerbs, or someone else.  I had a slight niggle in my right hip, a dry mouth, and a desperate need to have a pee.  I had attempted to use the port-a-loo at the start, but the stench and the darkness was too much to handle.  I’m not a fan of running in the dark and just told myself to hang in there until daylight.

The streets of Pietermaritzburg were thronged with supporters lifting spirits, and definitely helping me to warm up on the gradual uphill, but it was at least five or six kilometres before I felt I was in any kind of rhythm.  About 10kms later it was time to pull off to the side of the road for that much needed pee.  I didn’t care that a man squatted down next to me to do more than a pee – when you gotta go, you gotta go, so I left him to it!

As the sun rose, so too did my confidence, and I felt comfortable with my pace as ahead of me I could see runners for what seemed like miles, and glancing behind, the winding trail of runners looked never-ending.  I was loving this.

Miles of runners on the Comrades Marathon route

The well wishes from other runners on the course was just fantastic, particularly the South Africans, who were from all walks of life, and were so proud to share this experience with international runners like me.  (The colour of my race number denoted I was an international runner, and it had my name and country on there).  I chatted to so many along the way who welcomed me to their beautiful country, and this legendary race.  I felt humbled and privileged to be a part of it, and it made all the training worthwhile.

Training for an ultramarathon

My training for Comrades started with very small steps and goals back in 2008, having run my first official 10km race in Queenstown in December that year.  I was doing half-marathon distance by February 2009, and I completed my first (and only) marathon in Christchurch in June.  After a bout of winter blues, my training started in earnest in September, and I decided to follow a training schedule for novice runners who wanted to completed Comrades in 11 hours.  The programme was time based with four days of training – hill repeats on Tuesdays, fast runs on Thursdays, and long runs on both Saturdays and Sundays.

In October, along with Dave and 23,566 others, I registered to run the 2010 Comrades.  For me this was the moment I was committed to the cause, and there was no turning back.

All was going well until late November when I suffered a stress fracture of my tibia and I had to stop running.  I was devasted at the prospect of not being able to achieve this goal I’d set myself, and it was Dave could do to console me.  Thankfully the combination of rest, physiotherapy, and massage, healed the injury, but it was mid-January before I could get back on my feet, this time staying off-road as much as possible.  Losing those eight weeks of training at such a vital stage meant it was going to be touch and go if I would be ready in time.

Dave adapted my training programme, and together we decided it was best I follow the ‘finishers’ programme – designed to complete Comrades inside the 12-hour gun.

The valley of a thousand hills

Meanwhile back in the R103 road to Durban, I was on target to achieve this as I got through the first few cut-off points with time comfortably on my side.  There were five official cut-off points on route – the first around the 30km mark, then at the halfway point, one after 60km, one at about the 72km market, and then another with 9km to go.  Runners that don’t make these points are pulled out of the race and taken to the finish by bus.

Writing this post almost three months after the event, I realise how much of the detail of the race I’ve sadly forgotten, but there are the poignant moments that will remain with me forever.  The first was after about 25km when I overheard a female runner complain to her companion about the hill ahead.  He replied “if you need motivation have a look at this guy coming up” – the guy he was referring to was Jappie, a runner I recognised from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, and who has only one leg.  If that wasn’t motivation enough for her, I don’t know what was.

Running through Inchanga I was again reduced to tears as the children from a special needs school, many from their wheelchairs, cheered us on with singing, clapping, and high fives.  At one stage or another, I thought of every single one of our family and friends in the UK and NZ who generously sponsored us to run this race in aid of raising money for a much loved and deserving community in the Eastern Cape.

The crowd support was truly amazing with the road lined the majority of the way, and there was barely a dull moment.  The music, singing and dancing from the locals was real entertainment, and the generosity of the South African people was overwhelming.  As well as the 46 official refreshment tables providing water, coke, energy drinks, oranges, bananas, chocolates, biscuits, and my absolute favourite, potatoes, the local people were offering their own sweets, chocolate and home baked goodies.

I was in my element at Comrades enjoying every minute of it.  Conditions were great, thankfully not too hot (it reached about 22 Celsius), and after 40kms of running I was working up an appetite.  Salty spuds were my order of the day and I munched on a handful here and there to keep my energy levels up.  I kept myself hydrated alternating with water, energy drinks, and flat coke.  All stuff I’d taken during training so I suffered no ill effects unlike many other runners I saw.

A salty spud in one hand, and water in the other!

One man running behind me was being terribly sick so I stopped to try and help  him, but after rubbing his back for a minute or two, I had to leave him as it was making me feel sick too.

At the 45km mark I began walking some of the uphill sections, and as I approached the 60km marker I was going into new unknown territory.  The furthest I’d run during training was 60km – a day I will not forget in a hurry, nor will I forget all the friends who came out to support both Dave and I on what turned out be the wettest day in Queenstown for 10 years!  It was that day at the end of April that I knew Comrades was within my grasp.

When I reached Kloof and the Nedbank Green Mile, I was feeling strong and happy, and enjoying this fantastic day out.  I was elated when I recognised Susie supporting me from the side of the road.  Running alongside me for a minute or two, she was able to tell me that Michael and Sam had spotted Dave much earlier and he too was strong.  I was looking forward to seeing him at the finish line in just a few hours’ time.

I was on the long downhill section of Fields Hill now and my quads were working hard.  It was difficult to watch so many fellow runners pull up with cramp and pain.  All I could do was shout words of encouragement because I know if I stopped, then getting going again would be tough.  I could see Durban in the distance, and as I got to the flat stretch through Pinetown my pace indicated I would be finishing in around 11hrs 15 minutes.  I was delighted.  The crowds were intense at this stage and fuelled by a day in the sun with plenty of liquid pleasures, they were entertaining to say the least.

At the top of Cowies Hill with about 16kms to go I had a real challenge.  My left knee suddenly seemed to snap and I felt instant pain.  The good news was I still had almost two and half hours until the gunshot would go at the finish (thank goodness I had my Garmin watch).  With my poor mental arithmetic skills even I could work out that this was still possible if I could manage to keep moving.  I stopped for a moment or two trying to stretch and ‘shake off’ the pain and to massage myself, and oh how I wished Becs, my massage therapist in Queenstown, was here with me!

No sooner had I stopped than an emergency vehicle pulled up alongside me offering me a lift to the finish.  I could think of nothing worse, and politely told them so in no uncertain terms, but not before helping myself to one of their chocolate biscuits to get me going again.

I had worked hard to get to this race and I was determined to finish it under my own steam.  I let the vehicle go and I focused on the finish line taking one step at a time.  I used  the sachets of cold water from the drinks tables and padded them around my knee for some light relief.  I walked a bit and ran a bit, and reminded myself that pain was only weakness leaving the body – a motivation I’d received from an ultra-marathon runner in New Zealand.

It was not long until both my knees were hurting, but I ignored the pain again by joining in singing chants in Xhosa with a group of black guys who were running in a lovely rhythm.  I stayed with them for as long as I could, but eventually had to resort to walking again.

My prayers were answered when supporters on the roadside were handing out ice cubes.  I packed a load of ice around both knees and waddled my way towards the 45th cutting and the final cut-off point.  I made it through and had an hour and five minutes left to complete the final 9kms.  I knew I was going to do it.  In all my training exercises I’d visualised myself crossing the finish line with no sign of the man with the gun.

The finish line in sight

When the 1,000 or so runners in the 12-hour pace setting group passed me, I instantly thought of Dave.  He had warned me that whatever you do, don’t let the 12-hour bus pass you.  From my calculations I figured that they were going to arrive at the finish line 10 minutes early, so from my perspective I had no need to panic.  I let them go and kept myself composed.  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, Dave was waiting for me at the finish line, and starting to wonder how on earth he was going to console me if I didn’t make it within the 12-hour cut off.

I desperately wanted to be able to run when I got into the stadium so I thought it best not to do any more damage and to walk the final two kilometres.  The crowd were going wild and yelling at me to run, but I knew I didn’t need to, and kept saying aloud to them “Don’t worry, I have it in the bag”!

As I saw the lights and entrance to the stadium I was overwhelmed with emotion and I knew I had made it.  The noise was deafening and I picked up my pace and headed for the finish line thinking there was only 100 metres to go, when actually there were 400m – a complete lap of the stadium.  Through tears of absolute joy I could see the clock counting down, and after 11 hours 59 minutes and 7 seconds I ran across the Comrades finishing line.

That’s me in the blue vest and white hat!

The best day of my life

This was the happiest and proudest moment of my life, and all I wanted to do now was share it with Dave and hear his Comrades story.  First I found Susie & Michael waiting for me in the international tent full of congratulations, and with a cold beer that never tasted so good!  The tears I shed with them were nothing compared to when I heard Dave’s voice on Michael’s mobile phone as he was trying to make his way to meet us.  We were both overcome with happiness and relief, and it was THE best feeling ever.

For reasons still unbeknownst to me I knew it was my destiny to complete Comrades that day, but for many fellow runners it was not to be.  Out of the 23,568 entrants, 17,627 met the qualifying criteria, 16,480 started the race, and 14,343 finished.

Dave, too, was one of those finishers.  He did brilliantly, taking an hour off his previous Comrades (2007) time, finishing this year in 10hrs 8mins.

That’s Dave in the red vest and white hat!

Drifting off to sleep later that night, I thought proudly “That was it, I did it, and it was the best day of my life”.

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